Jane Reads: Lyrical Press Cozies by Janet Finsilver & Lynn Cahoon

Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver

The Blurb

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .

It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights — a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible.

Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver
Series: A Kelly Jackson Mystery, #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Paperback: 190 pages
ISBN-10: 1616509325
ISBN-13: 978-1616509323
eBook File Size: 568 KB
ASIN: B015MA6EDO
Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play | Goodreads

The Excerpt

“Welcome, everyone. My name is Lily Wilson, and I’ll be leading the tour today. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask them. There’s a sign-in sheet on the check-in counter. We’ll be starting at one o’clock, which is in five minutes.” She turned in my direction and said, “I’d like to introduce the manager of one of Resorts International properties, Kelly Jackson. She’s in charge of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.”

The members of the group smiled an acknowledgment. A short man in a denim shirt and khaki pants raised his hand. Lily smiled at him and asked, “Is there something you’d like to know?”

He pointed to the entrance to the parlor. “What is that shield above the doorway?”

“Redwood Heights was built by Reginald Brandon. That’s the family coat of arms,” Lily said. “There is an official Brandon crest on file. However, Mr. Brandon wanted to design his own to reflect life in the West. On his shield he chose to put the silhouettes of two rearing stallions, symbols of strength. Rifles instead of swords crossed over the top of them — the weapons of that era. Tall redwood trees filled in the area behind them and were the source of his wealth. You can see his motto for loyalty and honor on the banner.”

I enjoyed her explanation. It added another dimension to an object that had just been an interesting piece.

A tall woman with a long brown braid down her back pointed to a picture. “Is this Mr. and Mrs. Brandon?”

“Yes, that picture is of the Brandons,” Lily replied. “The woman in the picture is the second Mrs. Brandon. As with many wealthy families and historic estates, there are questionable stories in their past. Redwood Heights is no different.”

“How so?” asked the woman.

“We don’t have any pictures of the first Mrs. Brandon. She was the belle of glittering New York high society who found herself in remote Redwood Cove. She disappeared not long after arriving. Some say she ran off with a lover. Rumors cropped up that she took a sizable amount of Brandon’s money, changed her name, and left to enjoy San Francisco’s growing attractions.”

The cadence of Lily’s voice took the story beyond a runaway wife. Her tilted head and arched eyebrow led you down a path of mystery and intrigue. The visitors moved a little closer.

Lily leaned toward them and whispered, “Some say she never left at all.” Her words lingered in the dead silence.

Everyone was still — frozen in that past time. Goose bumps popped up on my arms. Someone coughed, and the spell was broken.

“After a time, Brandon married again. They had no children and, alas, the house went to a distant cousin.”

I’d been mesmerized by the tale. Snapping out of it, I looked around. Sylvia still wasn’t there.

“The tour will meet in the parlor. Restrooms are down the hallway to your right,” Lily instructed the group.

I walked up the carpeted stairs to the second floor, running my hand over the smooth oak railing. It had taken hundreds of polishings to develop the fine patina and rich glow.

Sylvia’s room was the first door at the top of the staircase. I knocked quietly. When there was no response, I knocked harder. She must really be a sound sleeper. I tried the door, but it was locked. I rushed downstairs, retrieved her room key, and glanced at my watch. If Sylvia hurried, she’d still have time to make the start of the tour. Arriving back at her door, I knocked again.

“Mrs. Porter, it’s Kelly. The tour is starting in a couple of minutes.” I got no response, so I unlocked the door and peeked in. Sylvia was sitting in front of her dressing table, her back to me.

I opened the door a little farther. “Mrs. Porter?” I stepped inside the room. In the filtered light from the curtained windows, Sylvia’s image reflected in the mirror. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested on her shoulder. She must have dozed off before making it into bed for a nap.

My attention was drawn to a brooch on the left side of Sylvia’s blouse as I approached her. I hadn’t noticed it before. It was a lovely piece — a large egg-shaped pearl surrounded by a burst of red.

I touched Sylvia’s shoulder. No response.

“Mrs. Porter?” I gently shook her.

Sylvia’s head rolled forward and hung down. Her dangling hair covered the side of her face.

I gasped, and my heart began to pound. I looked more closely at her. The burst of red wasn’t part of a pin — it was blood.

The Review

I read a good book recently, y'all — Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver. Let me tell you a little about it.

Murder at the Mansion is the second book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. It is not necessary to have read the first book, Murder at Redwood Cove, before reading Murder at the Mansion, because Author Janet Finsilver includes enough details from Redwood Cove for a new reader to be in the know for Mansion — knowing who the characters are, and what has gone on — instead of being lost and confused.

Kelly is the new manager of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast. She is assisted by Helen Rogers. My favorite characters are Tommy Rogers (10-year-old son of Helen), his Bassett Hound Fred (who had a special role in Book One, Murder at Redwood Cove), and the Silver Sentinels. For some reason, I couldn't quite connect with Kelly.

The mystery of who killed Sylvia Porter isn't the only mystery concerning her. There are interesting plot twists involving the original residents of the Mansion. I was surprised by whodunit.

I recommend Murder at the Mansion to all fans of Cozy Mysteries. Even though it didn't grab me, according to the reviews on Goodreads, I am in the minority with my less-than-stellar opinion. In all probability, you will love it!

I like Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver, and grant it Three Kitties.

Three out of five kitties

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Murder at the Mansion in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.

The Author

About Janet Finsilver

Janet Finsilver and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves animals and has two dogs — Kylie, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Ellie, a boxer/coonhound mix.

Janet enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and cooking. She is currently working on her next Redwood Cove mystery.

Visit her on the web at these locations:

Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

The Blurb

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there's nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi's sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi's name — without getting herself in hot water.

Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon
Series: A Tourist Trap Mystery, #7
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1601836325
ISBN-13: 978-1601836328
eBook File Size: 3107 KB
ASIN: B015BCRWQG
Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play | Goodreads

The Excerpt

Limping home, I saw Greg’s truck parked at City Hall. I went in through the side door that took me to the police station. Amy kept going, heading home to shower before returning to her job as city hall receptionist.

Greg stood by Esmeralda’s desk and raised his eyebrows when he saw me. “Rough workout? I’m glad I was too busy to go today.”

“Oh, you’ll get yours. Don’t think demon trainer didn’t notice you were gone.”

“Okay. So why are you here?” He pushed a curl back out of my face. “Too far to walk home after the workout?”

“You’re just mean, you know that right?” I sank into the couch. It did feel amazing just to veg for a second or two. Okay, so Greg could have been right about my real motives for the impromptu visit. “Actually, I wanted to know about your call-out last night. I’m assuming this was a murder and not an old guy dying in his sleep.”

“And you deduced that from?” He watched me closely.

Shrugging, I sank deeper into the cushions. No wonder Greg didn’t mind sleeping in his office every so often. The couch was amazing. “No one blabbed, if you’re thinking of blaming Toby. You didn’t call, and you’re still wearing last night’s clothes.”

He chuckled. “You’re right. I guess I’m more transparent than I thought. We don’t know much about the murder, except the guy checked in a few days ago under a false name. Of course, the motel doesn’t ask for any verification or even a credit card. Cash only out there.”

“So he’s not a local.” For some reason, this made me feel better. Sure, it was sad someone had died, but people died all the time. I just didn’t want it to be one of my friends.

“Not that I can tell. But I think it’s the biker who’s been racing up and down Main Street. He fits the description.” Greg shrugged and grinned. “And, there’s a bike parked outside his room. Yep, I’m a trained investigator, I notice these things.”

“Big guy?” I thought about how the elderly woman had almost been smashed by the rider just a few days ago.

“Nope. He’s tall, maybe six feet, but if he weighs more than a hundred fifty soaking wet I’ll buy you dinner.” Greg groaned as he stood and walked across the room to his desk. He pulled me to standing. “I hate it when you do that.”

“Do what?” Now that I was upright, my stomach growled reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. I dug into my tote and pulled out a protein bar.

“Trick me into telling you more than I should.” He pointed to the door. “Out of here. I’ve got work to do.”

I took a bite of my protein bar as I walked out. Pausing at the door, I turned back to look at him. He was already typing into some document. “I take it I won’t see you for dinner?”

“Not tonight. But I’ll be over on Sunday at the latest.” He paused. “Are you working the festival that day?”

“Just the morning shift. We’re closing the main store and only running the food truck that day.” I adjusted the strap on my tote, feeling the weight on my screaming shoulder blade. I walked out of the office and wondered how bad the murder had been. Just because it was a stranger that lay in the morgue, didn’t mean someone from South Cove hadn’t been involved or known the guy.

Or why else would he have been here?

The Review

I read a good book recently, y'all — Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon. Let me tell you a little about it.

Tea Cups and Carnage is the seventh book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I can attest to the fact that Tea Cups and Carnage can be read as a standalone, as this is the first Tourist Trap Mystery I have read. The main mystery, centering around Kathi and the murder, is interesting and easy to follow. There is a secondary mystery, concerning a missing check, that is also interesting.

The continuing characters' backstories are explained enough that I know who's who. I like Jill (main character and narrator), her co-workers at Coffee, Books, and More, and her boyfriend Greg, a police detective.

I'm a little confused, though, about why Jill feels she "must step in to clear" the suspect. To me, that's rather insulting to Greg and his ability as a detective. Also, I thought the sections concerning the festival and the library fundraising event were a little draggy.

These are totally my opinions, however. I suspect that anyone who has read the first six Tourist Trap books will love Tea Cups and Carnage. Also, if you were to start at the beginning of the series and read each book, I suspect that you will love Tea Cups and Carnage.

I like Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon, and grant it Three Kitties.

Three out of five kitties

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Tea Cups and Carnage in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.

The Author

About Lynn Cahoon

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander.

Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction.

Visit her on the web at these locations: